Show Ford Reported Ready to Close DownAll DownAll Down DownAll All Plants if Strike Fever Spreads 0 Dr aT United 4 Pren DETROIT Sept 29 Henry 29 Henry Ford wants ants to keep his gigantic Industrial empire running smoothly but would close every plant in the country if the ic strike fever should spread from the ic east the United Press learn learned d to- to day ay The industrialist will not be coerced by y what he calls strike agitators it was as said Slid Sources close to Ford said the manufacturer man man- manufacturer probably would meet with N R A mediators however if they came here for a conference with him Ford is trying to abide by the spirit of the recovery act by paying as many menas much as possible under the present production schedule Production is at a low ebb now during the period of transition from I the old to the new models and Ford believes strike agitators are taking advantage of the situation to foment labor troubles T T The strike at Chester Pa was led by 60 workers who had heard Ford planned to close the plant officials here said aid Ford closed dosed the plant immediately immediately im im- im mediately and ordered its production quota transferred to other eastern I plants Ford d does docs not Intend to close the Edgewater N N. J. J plant unless the walkout there becomes general i The manufacturer does not believe the strikes in the east cast will spread He claims he is paying his workers a amu mu much h higher wage scale than they could receive elsewhere at nt the present present pres pres- ent time The Ford wage scale ranges from 50 cents an hour for tor a small minority of unskilled laborers abor rs to an hour for skilled workers Ford has ordered ordered or or- dered his plants back on a five day 4 hour 40 hour work week to insure a n living wage The he eastern Ford strikers demand demanda a 25 weekly minimum for a hour 35 work week |